The Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) is set to arraign today former senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan for the coup d‘etat charges filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against him in connection with the July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny.
Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Oscar Pimentel ordered Honasan, who is out on bail, to be present during his arraignment at 9 a.m. today.
Honasan’s lawyer, Daniel Gutierrez, said they will ask the court to defer Honasan’s arraignment until after the DOJ ruled on their petitions questioning the findings of the DOJ for charging Honasan as a leader of the Magdalo soldiers who staged the mutiny in 2003.
Gutierrez said Honasan is ready to enter a not guilty plea should Pimentel refuse to postpone the arraignment today.
The DOJ amended earlier the charges against Honasan, naming him as “leader, recruiter, commander and planner” of the mutiny.
Honasan is also facing rebellion chages in another Makati court for his alleged role in the aborted coup to unseat President Arroyo in February last year.